EA Sports' Madden 25 Bears vs. Vikings

So the Bears are one-point underdogs visiting the Vikings. How? Why? Regardless, it's safe to say anything can happen. Also safe to say this is a must-win for the Bears.

Note: Game difficulty is set at Pro. Quarters are seven minutes. Spread via Bovada.lv is Bears +1.

First quarter

Adrian Peterson gains 15 yards on the first two snaps. Could be a really, really long day. Christian Ponder is sacked for a 7-yard loss, but hits Jerome Simpson for 22 on the next play, down to the Bears 47. John Carlson drops a sure completion, Peterson is stuffed for a loss of 3, then Ponder finds the explosive Cordarrelle Patterson for 9 yards. On fourth-and-4, coach Leslie Frazier calls for a fake punt, but punter's pass is incomplete. Bears ball at the Vikings 41, 2 minutes,49 seconds left.

Josh McCown finds Earl Bennett for 11 yards to the Vikings 48. Forte gains 4 yards on two carries, McCown drops one off to Forte for 3. That's not enough. And on fourth-and-3, the Bears also call for a fake punt, which likewise fails as Adam Podlesh throws his pass out of bounds. Vikings take over at their own 41.

Forte gains 14 yards off the right side, then a screen to Forte gains 12. Two plays later, McCown scrambles off the right side for 10 yards down to the Vikings 36. McCown finds Brandon Marshall wide open down the left sideline for 27 yards into the red zone. McCown drops one off to Martellus Bennett for 11 yards, down to the Vikings 3. On a miracle dropback during which he evades two probably sacks, McCown blindly slings one to a crossing Martellus Bennett, who scoots into the end zone. That has to be seen to be believed. Bears 7, Vikings 0, 2:50 left.

Peterson for 5 yards, Peterson for 4 yards, Ponder to Peterson for 8 yards. Going to have to take a shot downfield at some point. Two designed runs for Ponder on second and third downs net 8 yards, and the Vikings punt. Bears take it at their 24, 41 seconds left.

McCown hits Marshall for 10 yards. Timeout. McCown to Earl Bennett on a post for 44 yards down to the Vikings 24. Timeout. McCown is sacked by Erin Henderson. Timeout. Take an easy field goal here or take a shot at the end zone? This time, Coach Marc Trestman takes the points. Robbie Gould hits a 39-yarder.

End of second quarter: Bears 10, Vikings 0

Third quarter

McCown floats a beauty to Alshon Jeffery for 21 yards on the half's first snap. McCown then finds Martellus Bennett for 11 more into Vikings territory. But two incompletions and a short Forte gain stall the drive and the Bears punt. Vikings take over at their 20.

Ponder finds Patterson for 5 yards, then looks for Simpson on an out route on the left sideline. The pass flutters Isaiah Frey intercepts it to put the Bears in business.

Starting at the Vikings 23, McCown hits Jeffery for 9 yards, then Forte gets 2 and the first down. On the next play, McCown again finds Martellus Bennett near the goal line, and this time he can just coast in. Bears 17, Vikings 0, 1:44 left.

Peterson gets 1 yard, Ponder to Simpson for 13, Peterson for 13 down to the Bears 48 before the quarter ends.

End of third quarter: Bears 17, Vikings 0

Fourth quarter

Ponder checks down to Patterson, who grabs 14 yards after some nifty moves. Ponder hits Peterson for 8, Ponder to Patterson for 6 and a first down to the Bears 19. Ponder to Peterson for 11 more. Peterson then bounces the next play off right tackle for a touchdown. Wow, what an easy drive. Literally zero resistance. Bears 17, Vikings 7, 4:47 left.

Time to drain the clock. Forte gains 7 yards, then loses 2, then McCown to Martellus Bennett for an impressive 26-yard gain. Forte gets 3 yards just before the two-minute warning hits, then 3 just after. On third-and-4, Forte gains 19 yards and this game basically is over.

Player of the game: Martellus Bennett. It's as if the Vikings didn't want to cover him because, frankly, they didn't. Bennett went nuts — seven catches, 83 yards, three touchdowns —and further cemented the importance of a legitimate tight end to a respectable offense.